ow.

This book is <i>angst city, baby</i>, which is not surprising if you've a) ever heard of Romeo & Juliet and b) read the first book.  At times I couldn't figure out how it was going to resolve itself, not because it didn't seem like Gong knew but more because my poor heart couldn't take what I knew was coming.  And yes, I read the same ending you all did and I'm choosing to interpret it differently for my own mental health!!! It's fine, everything's fine. 

Gong is a fantastic writer -- this book is well-paced and full of gorgeous, gorgeous prose.  So much thinking about colonialism and power and labor and healthcare and wow.  I can't wait to pick up her new series when it comes out (but also thank god it's not out for a while because I <i>do</i> absolutely need time to recover and mentally prepare.

Thank you Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC!